Genetic diversity and dynamics of plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax populations in multiply infected children with asymptomatic malaria infections in Papua New Guinea

• Published in: Parasitology Vol. 121 ( Pt 3); p. 257
• Main Authors: Bruce, M C, Galinski, M R, Barnwell, J W, Donnelly, C A, Walmsley, M, Alpers, M P, Walliker, D, Day, K P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.09.2000
• Subjects: Adolescent; Animals; Antigens, Protozoan - chemistry; Blotting, Southern; Child; Child, Preschool; DNA Primers; DNA, Protozoan - chemistry; DNA, Protozoan - isolation & purification; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Female; Genetic Variation - genetics; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Malaria, Falciparum - complications; Malaria, Falciparum - epidemiology; Malaria, Falciparum - parasitology; Malaria, Vivax - complications; Malaria, Vivax - epidemiology; Malaria, Vivax - parasitology; Male; Papua New Guinea - epidemiology; Parasitemia - epidemiology; Parasitemia - parasitology; Plasmodium falciparum - chemistry; Plasmodium falciparum - genetics; Plasmodium vivax - chemistry; Plasmodium vivax - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Protozoan Proteins - chemistry; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Survival Analysis; Papua New Guinea
• ISSN: 0031-1820; 1469-8161
• DOI: 10.1017/S0031182099006356

We describe the dynamics of co-infections of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax in 28 asymptomatic children by genotyping these species using the polymorphic loci Msp2 and Msp3alpha, respectively. The total number of Plasmodium spp. infections detected using 3 day sampling over 61 days varied between 1 and 14 (mean 6.6). The dynamics of P. falciparum and P. vivax genotypes varied greatly both within and amongst children. Periodicity in the detection of P. falciparum infections is consistent with the synchronous replication of individual genotypes. Replication synchrony of multiple co-infecting genotypes was not detected. In 4-year-old children P. falciparum genotype complexity was reduced and episodes lasted significantly longer (median duration > 60 days) when compared to children aged 5-14 years (median duration 9 days). P. vivax genotype complexity was not correlated with age but the episode duration was also longer for this species in 4-year-olds than in older children but was not as long as P. falciparum episodes. Recurrence of P. falciparum and P. vivax genotypes over weeks was observed. We interpret these major fluctuations in the density of genotypes over time as the result of the mechanism of antigenic variation thought to be present in these Plasmodium species.